Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Full disclosure: I am not a Jew. I am a practicing Christian, non-evangelical, from a background of tolerant Protestantism. I read eclectically, am well educated, and consider myself an intellectual. And I stand with the Jews.

Many historians date the beginning of the Holocaust to November 9th, 1938. On that date the Nazi government launched a pogrom against the Jews, killing hundreds and arresting many more. Synagogues were torched, Jewish shops and homes were looted and destroyed, and Jews were shipped off to concentration camps. That night of major violence came to be known as Kristallnacht, in reference to the shattered glass found on the sidewalks in front of Jewish businesses all over Germany. A few days later new laws were passed by the Nazi government, effectively banning all economic activity by Jews and removing what few civil rights remained to them. It was a big step down the road that led through the gates of Auschwitz and Treblinka to the Final Solution.

Does the West stand on the threshold of a new Kristallnacht? The alarming spread of anti-Semitism across the globe is ominous evidence of a new cycle of hatred.

When Jewish students are attacked on an American university campus by protesters screaming "Hitler was right!";

when the prime minister of Iran says, "...the use of a single atomic bomb has the power to destroy Israel completely, while it will only cause partial damage to the Islamic world";

when synagogues are burned in Belgium and European Jews are afraid to wear the yarmulke openly;

when The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is made into a television drama in Egypt and sold openly on Wal-Mart's website;

when Jews are fleeing anti-Semitism in France to settle in Israel;

when the world does not rise up in outrage against these evils;

-- then it is time to prepare for a new and more widespread Kristallnacht.

Anti-Semitism is virtually everywhere, even in such formerly safe havens of the Anglosphere as the USA and Australia. Around the world, but especially in the Middle East, countries which once boasted large and vibrant Jewish communities are now emptying themselves of Jews. Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, and Iraq once were homes for Jews. Now there are virtually none; they have left their homes and their cultural roots to resettle in Israel or America. There had been Jews in Yemen since at least the second century, taking on many of the cultural characteristics of the Muslims around them and contributing to the civilization of Yemen while retaining their Jewish identity; now they are gone.

The "World Community", as exemplified by the UN, regards violence against Jews to be of no importance. The UN passes dozens of resolutions condemning Israel, the most notorious being Resolution 3379 (1975), which declared that "Zionism is a form of racism and racial discrimination." All Israeli actions towards the Palestinians are censured, including the building of a wall to protect innocent Israelis against suicide attacks. But in all the years of the UN’s existence, not one resolution has been passed against those who have promised to annihilate the "Zionist entity".

Anti-Semitism was already established on the nationalistic Right. More alarming are the notably virulent strains now reappearing on the Left. During Hitler's time, many of the Old Bolsheviks were Jews; Bolshevism was considered "revolutionary Jewish politics" and was reviled as such on the Right. But in the Soviet Union persecution of Jews flared sporadically and the purging of "rootless cosmopolitans" was the duty of the Party. Now, with the euphemistic equation Zionism=Racism, the very existence of Israel has been called into question. An anti-Zionist might say, "I am only against Zionism, not against the Jews," but that is merely a new and disingenuous cover for Jew-hatred.

The mushroom cloud over Tel Aviv is the dream of the enemies of Zionism.

In their reaction to conservatives by those on the Left, a new term has developed: "Neoconservative" is a code word for "Jew". A neocon who supports Israel is thus an agent of the Zionists. I am, in fact, one of their unwitting dupes as I write this, since I stand with the Jews.

Is the rich and fertile culture of "The West" even conceivable without the Jews? In every enterprise open to them Jews excel. They are over-represented in the highest reaches of the arts and sciences, and in the academy; despite historical obstacles and discrimination, they are to be found among the greatest mathematicians and physicists, composers and musicians, historians and novelists. Examine the masthead of a magazine, the credits for a movie, or the members of a university faculty, to see the contributions of the Jews.

Beyond those achievements, the greatest gift of the Jews to Western Civilization has been the Law. The Jews brought us the idea that a man stands accountable before his Creator, Who will sit in judgment over him; that the Law is just and eternal, and that obedience to it is a moral and righteous act. Christianity, especially as developed by Saint Paul, was responsible for the spread of this new idea of law and the individual throughout the West. Still, it is in essence a Jewish idea. Christ's revolutionary message urged a return to the Law as originally understood by the Patriarchs. In its earliest years the gate to Christian conversion opened onto Judaism first. And today a Christian views the just society as a fulfillment of the Law, the Jewish Law of which Christianty is a New Covenant.

So while the halls of justice in Christendom may accord with the architecture of the Greeks, and may boast inscriptions in Latin, the justice handed down within them is the justice of the Hebrews. I stand with the Jews.

The Laws of the Jews form the moral and ethical core of Western Civilization. Without them we would be a hollow culture, subject to the whims of polytheism and prone to the fads of nihilism. They are the backbone of what makes us civilized; we repeal them at our own peril.

Whether or not it is 1933 (or 1936, or 1938) all over again, it is time for the West to make a stand. Before the shards of glass cover the pavement in front of Jewish businesses in the new Kristallnacht; before laws are passed restricting the rights of Jews; before whole families are shot and bulldozed into mass graves; before the mushroom cloud rises over Tel Aviv -- Western Civilization must stand up and be counted. We must say, with the Jews, "Never Again."

39
comments:

Baron, "I Stand With the Jews", too. For all the reasons you mention. How the New Covenant made them 'the other' to to the European, is only explainable as two thousand years of politics not dissimilar to the 'lowest common denominator' execresence we shall witness again today. As you say, the decisive symbol of western culture is more the Ten Commandments than the Parthenon.

And, hey, your profile, I'm Aries, too. In fact, I was born one year to the day (April 20)after Adolf celebrated his last birthday. Dad was sprung from a German POW camp by the Red Army, the POWs rotated home first in line, and mom and dad got right to work!

I will check in, Baron. Dymphna had a heartbreaking post not long ago on Belmont, and strange as it sounds, since we're all just pixels, I've hoped for her since then that she'd write, write, write...graphotherapy, I believe in.

Baron, I,too, stand with the Jews. I am a 66 year-old Christian who had seared into his consciousness (may I use that term?) the pictures of our troops entering concentration camps during WWII. I was just a child, but those images had a lasting impact and I have been emotionally and intellectually interested in and committed to Israel ever since. (Incidentally, images of blacks abused in the South in the 50's and 60's and the 911 image of the Islamofascist attacks are are also seared into my consciousness, and have and will impact on my socio-political development and behavior.)

The Islamofascist-Leftist Axis must be stopped. President Bush's election in 2000 and his reaction to 911 revealed both the collusion between these groups and the danger they present to America, Israel and the values of classical liberalism. That is why this election is critical to all, but most especially to Israel. I pray the American people will not be led down the path of appeasement, resignation, "global testing" and anti-semitism by Kerry and the Moore-Democrat Left. For surely, this path leads only to great sorrow for all of us, Jew and Gentile.

I am delighted to find your site and look forward to your informed and insightful essays.

I am a Protestant and also stand with the Jews. As you so eloquently put it, our whole culture is indebted to them. However, I am sorry that the Jews have to leave their homes in Syria, Turkey, Egypt, France but they continue to add to the intellectual capital of the United States when they emigrate. I personally think that many of the current and future problems in Russia are a result of the huge Jewish exodus. Anyway, enjoyed your post very much and will check back.

Buddy -- I got the link to it from Roger Simon yesterday. Very amusing! Not sure if Dymphna has seen it yet, though...

hollymer -- I think any country that loses its Jews would have problems. I haven't seen any research, but I would bet that the proportion of Jews in a country's population correlates with economic growth, academic scores, etc.

In the Old Testament God said to the children of Israel, "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you." I believe this promise still stands today. My father was one of the liberators of Dachau and ever since I was a little girl (growing up as a Christian) I have been a friend of the jews.Do you know the "derogatory term" our soldiers are called by our foes in Iraq? They call us Jews. And so we stand with the Jews.It says in Revelation that one-third of Israel will be saved. Secular Jews have another religion--liberalism.

Ran across a site that might interest readers here:http://www.brainyquote.com/(and thanks for the compliments on the pics; I've done prob. a hundred of 'em since the Dem primaries began, and the lies started flowing, and my po'd nervous energy started rising!)SOON, no more bowel-clenching propaganda flood! Mercy!

In the aftermath of reports that a Jewish school in Toronto had been firebombed I made a note to myself that when I returned home at Christmas, I would find the time during a quiet week day to visit one of the several synagogues in my city to softly but firmly offer my support.

I can't at this time cite any great philosophical/ religious or intellectual connection based on historical precedent that motivates me to do so, rather its that when in London several years ago I would often work at an orthodox Jewish school. There was always a very young, fit and self assured gentleman within a little brick gatehouse guarding the front gates of the school. And although his English was rather sparse and my Hebrew non-existant, we would often chat as I made my way in or out. I never saw a weapon, but I often thought that if he didn't have one (unlikely) then the one or two others that I never did see but assumed were somewhere around, did.

Rather, it is simply a matter of my belief that no one should have to live like that. Particularily when it involves elementary school children in the heart of London. Particularily when it involves elementary school children in the heart of Toronto. Or in the heart of my city. Or the heart of any city for that matter.

Then again perhaps my motivation its simply the distillation of two or three thousand years of Western civilization that we used to be able to take for granted.

No, I was not familiar with that particular outrage, but am now. Appreciate the thread.

Perhaps I may provide some counterbalance.

" An act of terrorism doesn't usually end up as a good news story. But Canadians have made it into one, by standing together with Montreal's Jewish community against a vicious act of treachery.

From every province, from Muslims and Christians and Jews, from francophone to anglophone, from adults and children, they have shown; by donating thousands of books to a burned out Jewish library, that they will not permit the Jewish community to be isolated by violence and prejudice"

This is an excerpt from an editorial in the Toronto Globe and Mail of Thursday, December 09, 2004.

The quote is lifted from "The Shotgun", blogspot of the Canadian conservative weekly magazine, the Western Standard. The quote can be found within the regular daily Press Review of Vancouver journalist Norman Spector( 09.12.04)

Time zones being what they are, I hope in some small way it either helps you to rest knowing there is reason for optimism or find it a means to see something positive as you begin your day.

When I was a kid I was not as aware as I am now of the extent of anti-Semitism on the Left. In my younger days it was generally associated with Right-wing fascism. During the 1950s and 1960s, when I was a kid, we were not aware of the virulent anti-Semitism in the Arab World, except when it was briefly brought to our consciousness during the '67 war.

I remember when I was a college student during the late Seventies and early Eighties, after I got out of the Army, there being Leftist organizations on campus protesting U.S. policy as affecting Latin America. I was a part of that movement, something I now remember with regret. I met not a few real, actual members of the communist party who were very anti-Israel and also, with great subtlety, anti-Semitic as well. What blew my mind was that some of them were Jews! Here I was, a Roman Catholic, and a very staunch supporter of Israel's right to exist rubbing elbows with people who wanted its existence forfeit. I have always been a supporter of Israel's right to exist - something which went against the grain of my family's culture.

I have come to the only conclusion that makes sense as regarding why these people want Israel gone: not a few of these Leftists (traditional marxists and Trotskyites) see Israel's existence a flash point upon which to build their alliances of convenience with totalitarian Islamists. For other reasons as well, Jews are considered too much allied with the global capitalist system they loathe. Then there are the most annoying folks of all: the mush-brained leftist Christians who have been convinced that Israel is a persecutor of the Palestinians (ignoring the fact that there is no such thing as a Palestinian, only Jordanian, Egyptian, and Syrian Arabs) and worthy of moral censure for betraying its religious ideals. I have met plenty of these folks and believe me, they are CLUELESS. They have chosen to be ignorant of how Israel's fight for its very existence and survival is NOT MORALLY EQUIVALENT to the Arabs who use the lowest forms of warfare against civilians. You will recognize versions of this crowd among the journalistic professionals in the MSM here and in Europe. Generally speaking, their line of reasoning amounts to this siren's song: reign in and roll back "the settlements" and the Arabs will be pleased and grant Israel the Islamic strategic or tactical truce. They take the Islamists' version at face value and pretty much trust these guys to fulfill their end of the bargain, but Israel GETS NO BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT as to its version of the story.

I think that the destruction of Israel and the ongoing persecution of Jews outside of certain safe haven countries is a sign of civilizational suicide. Furthermore, most distressing is the ongoing shame and scandal of Christians being involved in this vicious idiocy. THAT'S THE REASON WHY JEWS MUST HAVE A COUNTRY WHERE THEY HAVE INDISPUTABLE LEGAL STATUS. Israel exists as a statement to the rest of the world that the failure of civilization to protect Jews requires Jews to secure their own rights and freedom. We can't be relied upon to do that, because our history has been one of perfidy vis-a-vis the Jews for over 2,000 years.

Baron, if Judaism is "beating heart" of the West, then the problem cannot be attacked directly. Extending your metaphor, it is easy to see how often and how thoroughly the West has attempted to eradicate Judaism, to project all evil onto the Jew and thereby rid the commonweal of any awareness of its own flaws. Shylock is a good example. Another is the many side trips to kill the Jews that the Crusaders indulged on their way to Jerusalem.

This attack of self against its own heart is an example of an auto-immune disorder. If the West is ever to be whole again, it must see this malady for what it is: a disorder at the cellular level.

What is your prognosis re the vital necessity for seeing this disorder -- now millenia old -- for the lethal disease that it is? Do you think the explosion of information technology will help or hinder civilization's recovery?

Actually, Judaism itself seems intent on self-destruction, even without the help of Arabs or Nazis. Jews in the West shared the same low birthrate, i.e., trending below replacement level. But, in addition, Jews in America are "assimilating" at record rates.

Hi. I too was born under the sign of Aries. I'm fiercely nationalistic, as well as non religious. Oh, and I stand with Christians against Islam. :)

Islam is essentially a nihilist ideology, but its goal is the same as that of Judaism and Christianity. Whereas Judaism and Christianity try and build toward the utopian ideal of "Gan Eden", Islam tries and tear down towards that utopian ideal.

Dostoevsky, very astutely in his Notes from the Underground, questions that man is at all longing to achieve this utopian ideal, as it would mean the end of history, the end of further striving, aspiration, hope, and free will. I happen to agree.

According to Dostoevsky, the one most advantageous advantage for man is the preservation of his free will. It may or may not be exercised in harmony with reason but it cannot be included in the system of the "lovers of humanity" because it makes forever impossible their dream of transforming human nature to desire only the good and rational.

"May it not be that he so loves chaos and destruction (surely this is incontestable), because he instinctively fears to attain his goal and to complete the edifice under construction." So that even even if the world of the "crystal palace" really existed, "even if man really were nothing but a piano key, even if this were proved to him by natural science and mathematics - he will devise desruction and chaos, will devise suffering of all sorts, and will insist on getting his way!" And, if this suffering and chaos could be calculated and tabulated in advance, then man would purposely go mad to be rid of reason and to "insist on getting his way".

Perhaps that is what anti semitism is. Man purposely going mad to be rid of reason and to "insist on getting his way".

As I said earlier, I'm not religious. I cancelled my "subscription to the resurrection". Was I wrong?

I stand with the Jews too. They invented or at least popularized the concept of a single deity. We have to thank them for their offshoot sects Christianity and Islam.

Jews are also a heroic tribe that managed to survive within the oppressive EuroChristian states while all other ethnicities and religion were totally wiped out.

However, there is no justification in todays world for a racist state. And however else it might pretend, Israel is just that.

The problem is not that Israel is causing more harm than other states, if we compare to Sudan, Kurdistan, Ethipia, Saudi Arabia, etc. The problem is that Israel whole existance and history and future is build around racist concepts.

One can ask then is Racism always bad? Is Israel an example of Racism playing a positive role?

I don't think that Israel is based on a racist concept. It's not more racist at heart than any other nationalistic movement. All nationalisms, even progressive ones, are exclusivist to some extent. They have to be, by definition. The same goes for Arab nationalism, which, for all its vaunted "tolerance" of dhimmi religious communities, would relegate only Muslims to first-class citizenship.

That's not to say that there's no racism in Israel, whether inherited from its European traditions or generated by years of war. But to say that there are racists in Israel or even racist policies is one thing. To say that the very existence of the country is racist is another point altogether, and a very debatable one. [By the way, if you're thinking that the creation of Arab refugees is at the core of Israel's racist identity, would you say the same for the Arab states that together expelled a million Jews?]

For Nafdik:The Arab population of Israel has a longer average life expectancy, higher per capita income, a higher rate of literacy, and a lower infant mortality rate than any Arab population in the Middle East.Supposedly Jews and Arabs are both semitic in orign, and thus racially not so distinct. Both Jews and Arabs have mixed with other groups in the past few thousand years, thus there are lighter and darker Arabs and lighter and darker Jews.

Israel allows the expression of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and all other world religions within its borders... can the same be said for other countries in the region? If so, Nafdik, please name them?

Israel's formal name is The State of Israel, not the Jewish State. Now compare with the Syrian Arab Republic, the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Republic, the Arab Republic of Egypt -- of course many of these nations reside on lands that were not Arab or Muslim until conquest by Muslims, and whose non-Arab population must live within a dominant and dominating Arab and Muslim culture that was imposed on them by force. While Israel's Arab population increases, the population of Christians (Copts, Chaldeans, Maronites), Zoroastrians, Jews, and others living in Arab/Muslim dominated nations are subjected to harassment or worse, and their populations are decreasing in to the point of extinction in many areas.There are many parts of the Mideast once with flourishing Jewish culture that are now Judenrein --- You should face the facts that Israeli society is primarily secular and multi-racial: consisting of individuals of European, Asian, and African descent.

Perhaps, your problem with Israel Nafdik is that Israel is majority Jewish and offers special privileges to Jews. You do not have a problem with the tens of nations that call themselves 'Islamic' and/or Arab republics, states or Kingdoms?

I stand with the Jews also. I think much anti-semitism stems from jealousy. The Jews are intelligent and hardworking and their culture encourages the very traits that translate into economic and other kinds of sucess, That sucess is very threatening to the egalitarians on the left because it suggests that their core beliefs--that we are all equal and that all cultures are equal--are incorrect. Southerncross1

I too stand with the Jews, although a Christian, and against any attacks on their communities outside of their own nation which I also defend.

My Dutch blog partner Herwulf posted a story a while back about the recent wave of attacks in Amsterdam by muslims there titled : "Families Besieged in their Own Homes", yet another set of anti-Jewish attacks to which Europeans (non-muslim) increasingly don't know how to handle.

Good point, Nafdik. Folks, don't take it wrong. I believe everyone is "racist", and should be. Should be proud of who you are, and of those who brought you into this world. Nothing roots us and comforts as does identity- of being part of something larger than we are, and more ancient.

The former editor of Newsweek noted that at every foreign dinner she attended, within 15 minutes the speaker was blaming the neighbors- "those people"- for all the country's problems. I'm tired of people pushing their identity politics and victimhood in my face.

Yes, we should appraise threats realistically. But a weak, sick culture is easily threatened.

Pride works much better than paranoia. That was Nafdik's point.

However, I am absolutely fascinated with the histories and pride of those not like myself. I'm sure all the readers of this blog feel likewise, or we wouldn't be reading it.

Nafdik, a Muslim, and I, a secular humanist, stand with the Jews. Good is good.

Zionist and Neo-Con are definitely code words for "Jew". Just the German word for Jew (Jude) is to this day an emotionally charged word in Germany due to history. No epithets are needed. Just listen to the way the Jew-haters spit out the words, "Zionist Jew". It is the same way German Nazis spit out the word Jude.